Debates of May 30, 2005 (day 4)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I support the goals of the Department of Education. I believe that education should be within reach of every child and family in the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, it is somewhat different in the smaller communities that I represent in the Sahtu. I would like to ask a question of the honourable Minister. Generally on the education part in the Sahtu, what type of support is he giving the educational boards in terms of retaining good, qualified teachers in the Sahtu? For example, we have heard in the past of the teachers' housing situation that has been an ongoing issue in the Sahtu. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are a number of initiatives that the department undertakes to encourage the retention of teachers. One of the first and the most important is the mentorship program that is supported by the department. This is to help new teachers gain experience in the system with an experienced teacher and to call on when they need advice or mentoring.

The Member specifically asked about housing, as well. Last year the Housing Corporation installed market houses in a number of communities in the Sahtu. I met with the board chairs of all regions, including the Sahtu, and asked them to provide me with some information on housing needs, which I could then pass on to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. That was provided in some detail by the Sahtu Divisional Education Council and that information has been passed on to the NWT Housing Corporation. They are taking that into account as they plan for the delivery of market housing. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am very glad to hear the Minister mention the mentorship of the teachers. We have a number of local assistants, as I referred to, in the teachers’ program. What specific types of programs are there? Can the Minister advise this House of promotions that would help these assistants get into a job that would be permanent in the smaller communities because of the hiring of northern teachers? We want to keep our teachers employed in the Sahtu region. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are people who have an interest in the education system who should consider, first of all, becoming teachers, taking the Teacher Education Program and getting a diploma and then moving on, hopefully, to take the Bachelor of Education Program. The college has put a lot of effort into making sure that people across the Territories can access that program.

As well, for those who are classroom assistants, it might be useful for them to consider taking the Aboriginal Language and Cultural Instructor Program. ALCIP is a program that is offered, when requested, by the college. We expect the divisional education councils to request the program, but the college is prepared to offer that to help people who may be working as classroom assistants be better prepared to work in classrooms, particularly in delivering language and culture programs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the students and teachers really work well together in the Sahtu. The prime example of education is the small pilot project in Fort Good Hope where they have a shop program where there is a young Grade 5 fellow, Bradley Kelly, who makes pens. Different organizations contribute to the Fort Good Hope school and in the vision of the Education department, I want to ask the Minister when he foresees types of homemade shops that would be available for other schools in the Sahtu in terms of improving the students and the trades that can be improved in the smaller communities for future potential jobs that may be coming. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Member has identified an area where we have a critical shortage of facilities across the Northwest Territories. That is in shops and opportunities for young students to gain hands-on education experience. We are hopeful that true partnership, which that’s exactly how the project got going in Fort Good Hope that the principal and community was able to strike with businesses in the region. They were able to outfit that shop and get materials for the program. We are hoping that we are going to see more and more of that. We have good examples in the Beaufort-Delta. We have some here in Yellowknife and in the South Slave, as well. It’s a situation where right now we are relying on partnerships to deliver that kind of programming. We have, as part of the Northern Strategy discussions, proposed that we be funded for a number of mobile shop units. We would use those then to travel around to the various communities to provide some hands-on training in those communities, in particular, where we don’t have the ability to put a room in a school and provide a shop service. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, a lot of our students in the small communities have a talent for hands-on programs and the shop program is one of them that could be a success in the small communities. Would the Minister consider other facilities that may be used in the communities to enhance the shop programs for our schools? MACA, DPW and other organizations sometimes have shops available for students. Would he consider that in the time frame before launching into a different program that would see these types of shops in schools permanently? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 39-15(4): Teacher Recruitment And Retention In The Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think that’s a great idea. We should find ways for schools to take advantage of other facilities that might be in communities. It’s certainly something that we welcome. So it’s already a possibility. We also encourage young people in school to get involved in apprenticeships and through the Schools North Apprenticeship Program, young people can gain hands-on experience and get credits towards their CTS courses, as well as time put in towards an apprenticeship. So we do have a number of different opportunities. Thank you, Madam Speaker.